In view of the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Valencian Community, the Valencian Public University System and the Generalitat reached an agreement on January 26th to reduce on-campus teaching during February, when the start of the second semester takes place.

Unlike during exams, when the concentration of people is limited in time and in the mobility within buildings, teaching involves a greater number of commutes to campus and movement inside the premises, where students also spend more time.

Classrooms are still proven to be safe sanitary spaces, according to analyses carried out by the University of Valencia and data provided by health authorities. Nonetheless, with the agreement reached with the Generalitat, the Valencian Public University System contributes to the enforcement of the mobility reduction measures recently implemented by the Valencian government to contain the spread of the pandemic.

Information about the agreement is available at UVnoticias: https://links.uv.es/TEf09OV

The University of Valencia, in the framework of co-governance implemented by the principal’s office during the pandemic, was already working with the dean’s offices of the faculties and the principal’s office of the schools on the development of an adjustment scenario of the current hybrid and flexible model.

After the last meeting held with the faculties on Wednesday, the 27th of January, the Executive Council of the University of Valencia met on the 28th, this Thursday, with the student’s representatives in the Governing Council and with the Safety and Health Committee of the University of Valencia to share the measures to be taken in February.

The measures are based on the following guidelines, which will be specified depending on the features of each degree:

• Priority will be given to remote learning, which will take place primarily through synchronous videoconferences during the timetable set for each subject and group.
• Subjects and/or teaching activities that require hybrid or classroom teaching will be decided by each faculty and school. In such cases classroom capacity will tend towards 30% and will under no circumstances exceed 50% of the total capacity.
• Labs, internships, final degree projects (TFG) and final master’s degree projects (TFM) will adhere to the original planning.
• Schedules for classroom teaching, particularly in the afternoon, will take into account the restrictions on freedom of movement established by the Valencian government at any given moment.

Faculties can delay the start date of some or all second semester activities up to a week in order to adapt teaching during February.

Each faculty and school will inform students about the specific measures taken in each degree.

This adjustment to the teaching model is regulated by the Principal’s Office Resolution of the 28th of January. According to the provisions of the Statutes of the University of Valencia, the adjustment will be confirmed by the Governing Council, which will meet next Tuesday, the 2nd of February.

The resolution is available at the following link: https://links.uv.es/rHKDW04

This model will be reviewed on February depending on the development of the health situation.

University services will be provided within the framework of the regulations of public health authorities at any given moment. Classrooms will remain at the disposal of the teaching staff to teach remotely through videoconferences using the equipment set up in the faculties.